Ashley Wagner-The US Figure Skating champ who refuses to stop speaking out for LGBT rights at Sochi

[Are_grits_groceries]

BOSTON -- Two-time defending U.S. figure skating champion Ashley Wagner, a medal hopeful for next month's Winter Olympic Games, has become the conscience of the U.S. Olympic team – and perhaps the Games themselves.

After speaking out against Russia's anti-gay law last fall, Wagner said in an interview Tuesday that she "absolutely" plans to continue talking about her opposition to the controversial law when in Sochi, presuming she makes the U.S. team this week, and is looking into options such as wearing "rainbow nails (and) rainbow earrings" while competing.

"This is the opportunity for this Olympics to be groundbreaking," Wagner, 22, said after a practice at the venerable Skating Club of Boston.

Asked if she will talk about the law at her news conferences at the Olympic Games in Sochi, Wagner didn't hesitate for a moment:

"Absolutely," she said. "It's something that I feel strongly about and I'm never one to not say what I'm thinking. I just speak my mind. It's something I can't stay quiet about. If it's my opinion, I'm going to say it."
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More: http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/christinebrennan/2014/01/08/ashley-wagner-speaks-out-russia-anti-gay-law/4374625/

Thank you Ashley Wagner!
She and Bode Miller are the two athletes who refuse to toe the line and not make waves like the USOC wants.
I hope she makes the team and has her say!

[Bluenorthwest]

1. She's the greatest, such a skater, I know she's going to speak her mind

and in doing so represent her nation and community. I am a huge fan of this great athlete.